Apparatus for producing infusions, decoctions and the like beverages



May 17, 1960 s. R. DONOT APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING INFUSIONS. DECOCTIO ANDTHE LIKE BEVERAGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1956 Ir? .2 a

INVENTOR m M. 0% m M DH V/ ATTORNEYS May 17, 1950 G. R. DONOT aAPPARATUS FOR PRODUCING INFUSIONS. DECOCTIONS AND THE LIKE BEVERAGESFiled Nov. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IE f IN VE/V TOR GU) RAYMOND mm M/M ATTORNE Y5 APPARATUS FGR PRODUCING INFUSIONS, DE- CGCTIONS AND THELIKE BEVERAGES Guy Raymond Donot, Paris, France Application November 27,1956, Serial No. 624,548

Claims priority, application France June 22, 1956 1 Claim. (Cl. 9?--295)My invention is concerned with an apparatus and package for forminginfusions which are particularly adapte for individual use.

One object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the kindembodying a package or cartridge" containing the product to be infused,in which the cartridge is tightly clamped between a hollow membercontaining the water and a ring adapted to be firmly secured to thelower section of said hollow member.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the kindabove described, which just comprises a hollow cylindrical orfrustoconical member and a ring adapted to be secured to one end of saidhollow member, the cartridge being so clamped between said hollow memherand said ring that all the water poured into said hollow member isconstrained to pass through said cartridge.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of theclass described in which a hollow member is assembled with a cartridgeby means of an elastic ring.

Further objects and features of my invention will appear in the readingof the following description, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings given by way of example and by no means in a limiting sense. Insaid drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional exploded view of a first embodimentof an apparatus and cartridge according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional elevational view of a second embodiment ofmy invention.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional vertical view of a further embodiment ofthe invention.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively plan and elevational views of an elasticring forming part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modification of said ring.

Figs. 7 and 8 are elevational sectional views of two further embodimentsof my improved apparatus.

In the embodiment illustrated, the cartridge includes a first stampedfrustoconical body 1, provided with a collar or flange 2 extending in aplane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said frustocone. Thefrustoconical recess thus constituted is filled with ground coffee andis closed by a flat cover 3 the edges of which are folded back as shownat 4 over the outer periphery of said flange 2.

The cover 3 and the bottom 5 of the body 1 are perforated as provided bythe slashing of a large number of very small openings such as 6 whichallow the water to pass through the cartridge while their jagged edgeshold the coffee powder in position.

The cover 3 and the body bottom 5 are then covered through spraying orin any other suitable manner by means of a product which may be removedby means of hot water, said product being of a comestible nature andhaving a neutral flavour, such as a concentrated solution 2,936,695Patented May 17, 196 0 of glucose. Said product stops the openings 6 andprotects the coffee against the action of the external air.

When it is desired to use the cartridge, the latter is fitted inside thelower end of a hollow member 7, capped by a cover 8 the skirt of whichis provided with inner axial heads, the inner surface of the lower endof said hollow member having a frustoconical shape and including aiongits lower surface an outer flange 9 adapted to bear on the collar 2.

I then fit over the member 7 a ring 10 provided with an inner collar 11on which rests a packing ring 12. The assembling of said parts 7 and 10over the periphery of the cartridge may be ensured through a threadedconnection as shown at 13 and 14 or otherwise.

The collar 2 is thus clamped fluidtightly between the flanges 9 and 11while the water poured inside the hollow member '7 is constrained topass through the cartridges after removing or dissolving the materialstopping the openings 6.

The apparatus thus designed is laid on any desired cup or the likereceiver.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the arrangement includes abottomless hollow member 16 into which is poured the hot water which isto produce the infusion or decoction. Said hollow member is provided atits lower end with a bead 17 projecting slightly outwardly and adaptedto cooperate with an elastic outer ring 18 which includes a main part 19extending perpendicularly to the general axis of the apparatus and thebreadth of which is sulficient for it to form a bearing through whichthe apparatus may be set over a support or container. The upper surfaceof the ring is provided with an annular tongue 20 which is slightlyfolded inwardly so as to form a sort of rabbet 21 adapted to house asillustrated the outer flange of the actual cartridge 22 together withthe peripheral head 17 on the hollow member 16.

The ring 18 may be slotted transversely so as to allow the easyintroduction into its rabbet of the head 17 and of the flange of thecartridge 22; preferably, said slot extends solely through the annulartongue 20 on said ring 18. Said ring 18 is made of any suitable elasticmaterial such as a metal sheet covered with plastic material orotherwise or again it may be made entirely of plastic material. To makeuse of said apparatus, it is sufficient to position the cartridge 22inside the lower end of the outer hollow member 16 and to set inposition the ring 18, the difierent parts being thus assembled reliablyby reason of the elasticity of said ring which returns into its startingposition after insertion of the bead 17 and flange of the cartridge. 7

Thus, a pressure is exerted both on the bead 17 and on the flange of thecartridge 22 so as to hold them in contact with each other and thisprovides for a fiuidtightness which is quite sufficient for practicalpurposes.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the hollow member 23 isprovided with a flange 24 directed inwardly and said flange bearsagainst the underside of the outwardly directed flange 25 of thecartridge 22. At a short distance above said flange 24, there isprovided inside the hollow member an annular flange 26 of a reducedthickness, so as to form with the first flange 24 an annular groove orrabbet 2'7.

Inside said groove or rabbet 27 is wedged a ring 28 of elastic materialprovided as illustrated in Fig. 4 with a radial slot 29. The size ofsaid ring is such that the two edges of said slot 29 may be in contactwith each other when the ring is fitted inside the groove 27. Said ring28 is rigid with a lug 30 (Figs. 4 and 5) directed inwardly and adaptedto be held between the thumb and the forefinger of the user, whereby thepositioning and removal of the ring 28 are made easier.

The operation of such an arrangement is obvious: the cartridge 22 ispositioned in a manner such that its flange 25 engages the upper surfaceof the flange 24. The ring 28 is then introduced obliquely after theuser has taken holdofits lug 30 and it is then urged slightly outwardlyso as to be positioned inside the groove 27. Obviously, it is possibleto give the ring 28 any desired shape and for instance that illustratedin Fig. 6 in which said ring is shown as including a number of radialelements such as 31-32 which converge towards a central knob 33, saidknob serving for taking hold of the ring as a substitute for the lug 30in the case illustrated in Fig. 4.

The ring 28 is made of elastic material and is advantageouslyconstituted by an elastic wire coated with plastic material. Itscross-section may be ovalshaped as illustrated in Fig. 3 so as tofurther its introduction into the groove 27 and to ensure through itscompression an improved fluidtightness.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, the cartridge 34 is notprovided with a cover welded or secured thereto in any manner whateverand said cartridge may be fitted freely inside the ring 35 and restthrough its outer flange 36 over the shoulder 37 formed in said ringperpendicularly to its axis. In this case, the cover of the cartridge 34is constituted by the sieve 38 which is rigid with the lower end of thehollow member 39.

In this embodiment, the cartridge 34 is fitted inside the opening 40 ofthe ring 35 after it has been filled with ground cofiee. The ring 35 isthen screwed over the lower end of the hollow member 39 whereby saidcartridge 34 is clamped in position by engagement of its flange 36between the ring 35 and the lower end of the member 39. It is thensuflicient to introduce the desired amount of hot water into the hollowmember 39 and to proceed in the usual manner for preparing the coffee.

Obviously, the same cartridge of a removable coverless type may bedesigned in a manner such that it is no longer to be fitted inside theopening 40 of the ring 35 but inside the lower section of the hollowmember 39. At this moment,-the cover 38 may also be free and be set incontact with the upper edge of the cartridge 34 before the ring isscrewed in position, or again said cover 38 may be rigid with theshoulder 37 provided in the ring.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, it is also possible to make the cartridge 34rigid with the lower end of the hollow member 39. This latter embodimentleads simply to providing a perforated partition 41 which is made rigidwith the inner wall of the member 39 within the latter at a distance dfrom the lower opening of the latter so that the volume thus definedbetween the perforated partition 41 and the lower edge'of said member 39corresponds to one measure of coffee. The sieve 42 forming the cover ofthe cartridge may be free and set in position at the moment of useeither over the shoulder 37 of the ring 35 or over the edge 43 of thelower end of the member 39 immediately before the screwing into positionof the ring 35.

Obviously, in the two last described embodiments, the introduction ofthe measure of ground coffee is produced by holding the body 39 upsidedown with reference to its normal position of use.

I may also provide a cartridge having a larger volume, the apparatushaving then a corresponding size so as to be capable of producingseveral cups of coffee at a time.

What I claim is:

An infusion apparatus comprising a hollow member having open ends, saidmember having a lateral bead provided on one of said open endsprojecting outwardly, a cartridge for a substance to be infused havingopposite sides capable of having a fluid pass therethrough, saidcartridge having a flange detachably mounted on said member head end, aresilient ring having a supporting portion extending substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of said cartridge with said cartridge flangeseated thereon and said cartridge extending therethrough, said ringhaving an annular tongue extending concentric with said housing andslanting inwardly detachably housing and retaining together said memberbead and said cartridge flange detachably retaining said cartridge toand exteriorly of said hollow member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FranceOct. 9, 1933

